Electrically-operated valve.



G. W. COLLIN.

ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED VALVE. APPLICATION FILED FEB.23, 1907. 926,389,Patented June 29, 1909.

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APPLICATION FILED FEB 23, 1907.

926,389. Patented June 29, 1909.

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GEORGE W. COLLIN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELEG'IRICALLY-OPERATED VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented June 29, 1909.

- Application filed February 23, 1907. Serial No. 359,031.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. COLLIN, citizen of the United States, andresident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectricallyconstruction and combination of parts whichv will behereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of theinvention.

Figure 1 is a sectional view through'the apparatus, the electrical and.pipe connections being shown diagrammatically. Fig. 2 is a sectionthrough a modification. Fig. 3, is a plan view on a reduced scale of agas pressure regulator with supply and feed pipes connected thereto.

The invention herein described is especially designed for use whereverit is desired to automatically cut ofi the supply of fluid underpressure whenever a break occurs or when from any other cause thepressure drops below a predetermined degree or if desired to manuallyoperate said valve to open or close the same, and from a distant point,

. if necessary.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 1 is the gassupply pipe extend.- ing to the pressure regulator 2., and from theregulator extends a pipe 3 for conducting gas to the point of use ordistribution. Pipe 1 is intercepted by and opens into a valve casing 4having a central enlargement 5 above which is disposed a partition 6having a valve seat 7 in the horizontal or intermediate portionthereof.- A tubular extension 8 is disposed above the partition andclosed at its upper end by a cap 9 screwed thereinto. This cap has arecess 10 in which is seated one end of a spring 11 which bears on apiston 12 fitting snugly within extension 8. A

stem 13 projects upward from the piston and serves to center the spring,and a valve 14 extends downward from the piston and is normally disposedupon the seat 7. A stem 15 depends from the valve and through seat 7 andis guided in a cross strip 16. A small aperture 18 is formed in thepiston to permit gas to pass into the compartment 19 formed above thepiston. This compartment con:- municates through a passage 20 with asecondary compartment 21 formed above the casing 4 and closed by a screwcap 22, but provided with a relief cook 21 a to use in opening thevalve. A plurality of diverging'passages 23 connect the compartment 21with the interior of casing 4, said passages opening into a valve seat24 which is closed by a valve 25. The stem 26 of this valve extends downthrough casing 4 and into arlepending cylindrical casing 27 formed withthe casing 4. The passages 18-, 20 and 23 and compartments 19 and 21constitute a by-pass from the inlet to the outlet ends of easing 4.

Within the casing 27 is housed a solenoid magnet 28, the jacket 29 ofwhich has an outstanding annular flange 30 which is supported by acollar 31 screwed upon the casing 27. A cap 32 is screwed upon the lowerend of the jacket 29. The lowerend of stem 26 projects into the core 33of the solenoid and is se curedto a shell 34 loosely mounted in saidcore. A tube 35 is supported within the core at the lower end thereofand houses a spring 36 which pushes upward upon a cross-pin'w'37 inshell '34 and serves to hold valve 25 normally unseated when valve isopen.

The 0 eration .of the valve herein described is as folfziws: Gas orother fluid under pressure is admitted to the casing 4 above partition 6and pushes upward on piston 12 and lifts the valve 14 against thetension of spring 1.] The gas will flow through the seat 7 and onthrough casing 4 and pi e 1.- A portion of the gas will pass throug thepassage 18 inv the iston and into com artment 19 from whic it will flowthrougi passage 20 and compartment 21 to casing 4 by way of the passages23. Whenever the valve 25 is for any reason closed, however, this gas incompartments 19 and 21 will be trap red and will exert a downwardpressure onthe piston 12 and, therefore, cause it to be seated and cutoff the flow through the casing 4.

The solenoid 28 is used to close the-valve at proper times, there beingmechanism for establishing a circuit therethrough whenever formedthereby is sub-divided by a diapressure in the system falls or electriccontactis manually, made. This mechanism consists of acasing made up ofoppositelydisposed concave-convex members 38 and 39 secured together,and the compartment phragm 40. The lower division 41 of the compartmentcommunicates with service pipe 3 through a tubular connection 42, andthe up er division 43 has an air vent 44. "A threa ed extension 45 isformed on the member 39, and secured thereon is a sleeve 46 having apartition 47 in which is guided a stem 48 secured to and extendingupward valve 25. Shoul from'the dia hragm. Sleeve 46 is closed at itsupper en by a cap 49 having a tubular extension 50. A.screw plug 51closes this extension and constitutes a bearing for a block 52 seated inone end of a coiled spring 53. The other end of this spring bears'on anut 54 carried by stem 48, and a circuit closer 55 in the form of a nutor waslfer is also carried by the stern. Sleeves 56 of insulatingmaterial are secured in opposite portions of sleeve 46, andresilient-bowed contact strips 58 are secured upon the inner ends ofthese sleeves 56 by'screws 59 constituting binding posts. In practicethe circuit closer 55 is normally disconnected from the contacts 58 andso held against the action of spring 53 by the fluid pressure, but whenpressure is lost under diaphragm 40 the circuit closer 55 engagescontacts 58 to close circuit. A wire 60 extends from a source 61, ofelectricity to one binding post, and another wire 62 connects the otherbinding post, with the solenoid, while a wire 63 which extends from thesolenoid to the source of electricity completes the electrical circuit.The gas air, steam or water, etc. under pressure within pipes 1 and v 3presses the diaphragm 4O upward and forces the stem 48 against thetension of spring 53; The circuit closer 55 is therefore normally liftedfrom contacts 58 and the deenergized magnet (permits spring 36 to unseatInstead of constructing the device, as'

shown in Fig. 1, it may be formed as in Fig. 2.

- In this modified construction the stem 64 of the auxiliary valveextends u ward through a gland 65 and a casing 66 which is secured apipe break or the pres-- sure of fluid be reduced in any other way, thespring 53 will force the circuit closer 55 down the valve and operateupon the valve casing and contains two op positely-disposed solenoidmagnets 67 and 68 arranged one above the other. The armature 69 issecured on the stem 64 and is common' to both magnets, and a flange 70surrounds the armature and projects between the magnets. ,A spring 71bears upward upon "the armature so as to hold the val e normally open. Awire 72 extendsfrom the magnet 68 to a source 73, of electricity, and areturn wire 74 having a switch 75 connects said source and magnet. Themagnet 67 is similarly connectedwith said source by wires 76, 77 and 78through switch 79. The wires 76,1ead to the pressure operated switchhereinbefore described: v

The preferred form of the invention has been set'forth by me but I donot limit myself thereto as I am aware that modifications may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the, advantagesthereof.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a casing having an inlet and anoutlet, of a valve for closingcommunication through the casing, a pistoncarried thereon pernntting a assage of fluid therepast, a supplementalva ve, electrically operated means for seating the supplemental valve tostop the flow to seat the main valve. I t

2. The combination with a casing having an inlet and an outlet; of avalve for closing communication through the casing, a piston carriedthereby permitting a passage of fluid therepast, and a by-pass forconveying such fluid through the casing, and pressure-controlledelectrically operated means for closing the by-pass.

3. The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingconfinunication therethrough, pressure-operatedmeans for opening thevalve, said means permitting a passage of fluid therepast, passages forconducting fluid through the casing, and pressurecontrolled electricallyoperated means for. elosin .the main valve to stop the flow of fluidEnough the valve.

4. The combination with a casing; of a' spring-pressed main valve forclosing communication therethrough, a piston carried by by pressure toopen the valve, said piston permitting the passage of fluid therepast,passages for conducting such fluid through the casing, and pressurecontrolled electrically-operated means for closing the main valve tostop the flow of fluid through the valve.

5. The combination with a casing; of-a main valve for closingcommunication therethrough, pressure-operated means for opening the saidvalve, said means permitting a passage of fluid therepast, assages forconducting said fluid through t e casing, a supplemental valve forstopping the flow of fluid therethrough to seat the first mentionedvalve, and electrically operated means for seating the supplementalvalve.

6. The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingcommunication therethrough, pressure-operated means for opening thevalve, said means permitting a passage of fluid therepast, means forconducting such fluid through the casing, a sup lemental valve,electrically operated means or seating the supplemental valve to stopthe flow of fluid to seat the main valve, and a pressureopcrated circuitcloser for said means.

7. The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingcommunication therethrough, pressure-operated means for opening thevalve, said means permitting a passage of fluid. therepast, passages forconducting said fluid through the casing, a supplement al valve,electrically operated means for seating the supplemental valve to stopthe flow of fluid to seat the main valve, a spring-actuated circuitcloser for said means, and pressure-operated means for breaking saidcircuit.

The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingcon'lmunication therethrough, pressure-operated means for opening thesaid valve, said means permitting a flow of fluid therepast, passagesfor conducting fluid through the casing, a supplemental valve, asolenoid magnet for closing the supplemental valve, a spring-actuatedcircuit closer for maintaining the solenoid magnet energized, andpressure-operated means for breaking said circuit.

9. The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingcommunication therethrough, pressure-operated means for opening thesaid. valve, said means permitting a flow of fluid therepast, passagesfor conducting fluid through the casing, a supplemental valve, asolenoid magnet adapted when energized, to seat said supplemental valveto stop the flow of fluid to seat the main valve, contacts included in acircuit with said solenoid magnet, a circuit closer to engage thecontacts, and pressure-operated means for removing the closer from thecontacts.

10. The combination with a casing; of amain valve for closingcommunication there-' through, pressure-operated means for opening themain valve, said means permitting a flow 0t fluid therepast, passagesfor conduct ing fluid through the casing, a spring supportedsupplemental valve, a circuit including a solenoid magnet adapted whenenergized, to seat said supplemental valve to stop the flow of fluid toseat the main valve, and pressure operated means for breaking thecircuit.

11. The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingcommunication therethrough, ressure-operated means for opening the vave, said means permitting a flow of fluid therepast, passages forconducting fluid through the casing, a spring supported supplementalvalve, a circuit including a solenoid magnet adapted when energized, toseat said supplemental valve to stop the flow of fluid, to seat the mainvalve, a diaphragm, means for directing pressure thereagainst from thecasin and means carried by the diaphragm for ireaking the circuit.

12. The combination with a casing; of a main valve for closingcommuhicationtherethrough, pressure-operated means for opening thevalve, said means permitting a flow of fluid therepast, passages forconducting fluid through the casing, a spring-supported supplementalvalve, a circuit including a solenoid magnet adapted, when energized, toseat said valve to stop the flow of fluid to seat the main valve, aspring pressed diaphragm, means for directmg pressure themagainst fromthe casing, and a circuit closer carried by the diaphragm.

13. The combination with a casing, of a main valve for closingcommunication there through, pressure-operated means for opening thevalve, said means permitting a flow of fluid therepast, passages forconducting fluid through the casing, a supplemental valve, solenoidmagnets, an armature therefor connected to the valve, a source ofelectricity in circuit with the solenoid magnets, pressureoperated meansfor closing the circuit to one of the solenoid magnets to seat thesupplemental valve, and means for closing the other circuit to unseatthe supplemental valve.

Si ned at Mansfield, in the county of Rich land, and State of Ohio, this26th day of December, A. D., 1906.

. GEORGE W. COLLIN. Witnesses:

L. W. OLSON,

P. J. KELLEY.

